Social Psychology

This approach aims to investigate our social behaviour: how we behave in (and sometimes because of) the presence of others. In particular, researchers have looked at social influence, that is, how our actions can be affected by others, for example, an authority figure as in Milgram’s study.

After studying this section, you should be able to:• describe and evaluate the social approach in psychology• describe and evaluate the various methodologies used to study social psychology• describe and evaluate the various issues and debates appropriate to social psychology• describe the social core studies in relation to methodology, approaches and perspectives, and issues and debates• evaluate the social core studies in relation to methodology, approaches and perspectives, and issues and debates

Test your knowledge of the key details of the four social studies using the exercise below.

Evaluating an approach, using studies as evidence

A common question in Paper 1 is to evaluate the approach, using the studies you have covered as an example. E.g...

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the social psychology approach using one of the studies listed below as an example. [10]

Milgram (1963)

Zimbardo (1973)

Piliavin (1969)

A very common mistake here is for students to simply evaluate the study itself (e.g. saying the strengths and weaknesses of the Milgram study). This does not answer the question. You need to use the studies as examples, in order to evaluate THE APPROACH!

Using the PEE structure can be very helpful here. For example:

P - Make a point about a strength or weakness of the approach (e.g. see the ones given below)E - Give and example from one of the four studies you have covered, which helps to illustrate your point.E - Explain why this is a good/bad thing for the approach.Read the example essay below for a model of this in action. It makes more points than you would need to in your essays (four developed points would be enough in the exam), but it gives you a clear idea of how you can structure your essays to make sure that you answer the question properly.

Assignment 1 - Practice paper 2 questions

3 (a) Outline what is meant by the ‘social approach’ in psychology. [2] Using the studies from the list below, answer the questions which follow.

Strengths of the social approach

Often high in ecological validity. Field experiments are commonly performed (e.g. Piliavin) and because they take place in a natural environment, the researchers are likely to observe natural behaviour, which can then be generalised with greater confidence.

Weaknesses of the social approach

Explanations can be deterministic - as they can assume that all behaviour is the result of social processes. (Environmental determinism - the belief that all behaviour is caused by our surroundings)

Making experiments ecologically valid often brings ethical issues. For example, participants in field experiments often do not know that they are participating and so cannot give consent.

We often try to please other people in our daily lives, so social psychology experiments are very vulnerable to demand characteristics producing unusual behaviour.

Field experiments can be very difficult to control, so it is easier for extraneous variables to affect the dependent variable, confounding the results.

Revision

Repetitions flashcardsThe 'social approach studies' flashcard file is below. Save it to your computer or device and open it using the Repetitions program to use.

Practice applying the theories you've learned in Social Psychology to real world issues of your choice...The '5 steps to tyranny' video will also help you practice this. Many of the steps of the video involve the psychological forces that we've covered in this unit, indeed some of the same research is used, as well as some interesting new studies.